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Discrete modelling of rock avalanches: sensitivity to block and slope geometries

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Abstract

A discrete element model was used to highlight the influence of size, aspect ratio and roundness of blocks onto the propagation of granular flows in order to obtain a more realistic modelling of rock avalanches. The numerical model accounts for energy dissipations by shocks and friction within the granular mass or at the base of the avalanche. A parametric numerical study was performed, based on laboratory experiments involving an assembly of small bricks. A particular attention was paid to explain how the block and slope geometry influence the kinematics of the avalanche (sliding or rotation of particles), and how the dissipative modes are modified (shocks or friction). In particular the effects of elongation, size and roundness of blocks combined to slope undulation were investigated. It was shown that these geometric aspects may have some complex implications in the mechanism of propagation of the granular flow and need to be taken into account to predict properly the final position of the deposit and the area impacted by individual blocks.

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Acknowledgments

All the authors acknowledge that this study contains original material, as a result of a purely academic study without any kind of private funding. Its publication has been approved by all co-authors and tacitly by the responsible authorities at the institutes where the work has been carried out.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. LaMCoS, CNRS UMR 5259, INSA Lyon, Université de Lyon, Campus LyonTech la Doua, Bâtiment Jean d’Alembert, 18/20 rue des Sciences, 69621, Villeurbanne Cedex, France

    Guilhem Mollon

  2. Université Grenoble Alpes, 3SR, 38000, Grenoble, France

    Vincent Richefeu, Pascal Villard & Dominique Daudon

  3. CNRS, 3SR, 38000, Grenoble, France

    Vincent Richefeu, Pascal Villard & Dominique Daudon

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  1. Guilhem Mollon
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Correspondence to Guilhem Mollon.

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Mollon, G., Richefeu, V., Villard, P. et al. Discrete modelling of rock avalanches: sensitivity to block and slope geometries. Granular Matter 17, 645–666 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10035-015-0586-9

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